8/13: More Than Three-Quarters of U.S. Residents “Eco-friendly”

76% of Americans believe they do their part to help the environment. Included here are 36% who do a fair amount, 23% who do a good amount, and 17% who do a great deal. However, when thinking about how they live and the items they buy, 24% of residents nationally do very little or nothing at all to protect the environment.

Just 8% of U.S. residents say that if they had a fruit, vegetable, or herb garden, they would grow it to help the environment. On the contrary, a slim majority — 51% — would plant a garden to eat healthier, 24% would reap the harvest to save money, and 17% would sow seeds to have fun.

Little changes when looking at Americans who say they do, in fact, grow their own fruit, vegetables, or herbs. Among these U.S. residents, 49% grow produce to eat healthier, 24% do so to save money, and one-fifth view their garden as a hobby. Just 7% have the environment in mind when it comes to gardening.

Do most Americans pick up a shovel and hoe and, personally, plant their own fruits and vegetables? No. 52% of U.S. residents do not have their own fruit, vegetable, or herb garden while 48% do.

Midwesterners, residents earning $50,000 or more a year, college graduates, older Americans, women, and parents are more likely than their counterparts to maintain a garden.

“52% of U.S. residents do not have their own fruit, vegetable, or herb garden while 48% do.”

48% is high but notice it includes “herb gardens” which could of course be in a “container garden” ideal for urban use.

Either way interesting article with some surprising statistics.

Rebecca

March 1, 2011 at 3:06 PM

@ B. Appleton

If you read carefully, the wording of the article doesn’t say that 49% of Americans garden; it says 49% of people who DO gardern do so for the purpose of eating healthier. So you’re probably right in thinking that 49% would be a high statistic for the total percent of the population that owns a personal garden.

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Personally I am surprised that that the number of people with a garden is at 48%. I would really have thought the number was lower. Being an industrialized nation with large populations in cities, the opportunity to grow produce is very limited – or so I thought. I am an avid gardener – I particularly like vegetables – and there is a huge interest in gardening. I sell sheds for gardens and I know they are popular for gardeners but the actual level is surprising. We hear so often that we are ruining the environment but I think if that many of us are growing their own vegies, even if not specifically to help the environment, then perhaps we are not as bad as we are being told!